Adjustable riddle



0a. 11, 1949. v w. F. SMITH 2,484,318

ADJUSTABLE RIDDLE Filed June 12, 1945 I N VEN TOR.

W. F; Smith Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE RIDDLE Willard F. Smith, Brooks, Calif.

Application June 12, 1945, Serial No. 599,023

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a riddle, which reduces the labor incidental to the hand picking of almonds, and which is especially adapted, though not necessarily limited, to the separation of almonds in the shell from the hulls after the hulls have been removed, or for separating shells and hulls from the almond kernels or meats when the nuts have been cracked.

A prime aim is to provide a riddle of this character which is readily and expeditiously adjustable to vary the size or area of the screening or discharge openings to the end that one riddle according to the invention will supply the equivalent of a series of riddles, each having a different size discharge opening, and to provide particularly such a construction wherein the size of the openings is minutely variable say to a fraction of an inch, to meet different sizes of nuts or requirements.

Also, an object is to provide such a construc tion as may be built as an independent unit or incorporated in a huller, cracker, or other machinery.

Further, a desideratum is to provide such a riddle capable of being built into cylindrical form, with theelements which provide the spaces remaining cylindrical in the respective forms, until adjustments are made in order to avoid any tendency of the material to bunch, fill up or clog the screening or riddle surface.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating operative embodiments, by way of example.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a modified form of riddle;

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but with the parts adjusted to provide screening openings of maximum area;

Fig. 3 is an approximately diagrammatic View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation corresponding to Fig. 1, but with a modified form of drive incorporated;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified cylindrical form of the invention; and

Fig. '7 is a detail section taken on the line 'l1 of Fig. 6.

As heretofore referred to,the riddle disclosed herein is particularly designed for service in connection with almonds. For instance, it may be used in theseparation of almond nuts from their hulls, or, after the shells have been cracked, for the separation of the meats from the shells, or for grading or sizing of the separated meats, the construction disclosed being usable for either service at will, thus permitting the single apparates to be employed for use as a substitute for hand picking or for'doing the work of machines designed for either of these services. The structure may be used alone or as a part of a huller, cracker, or other machinery.

The several services of the structure assembly is made possible through the particular conformation of the nut shell and meat, and the variance in dimensions between the hull and the nut shell, and between the latter and the meat. As is well known, the general shape of the nut shell and of the meat is spheroidal, is of greater length than width, and having the greater thickness in the axial region and tapering toward the peripheral edge, with the maximum thickness less "than the width, the entire periphery being generally in the form of a blunt edge. Hence, it is possible to set up separating conditions, by arranging the dimensions of a discharge opening such as will permit the shell, for instance, to pass through the opening if the shell enters the opening edge first-the same is true with respect to the meat-whether the entrance be endwise or side-edgewise, provided the width of the opening is sufficient to permit the axial zone to pass through. Where the structure is of the drum type and rotatable, as herein, the uncracked shell can. readily enter the opening if entering edgewise, but if too thick to pass through, it would be carried around to an upper position and then fall back into the interior. It could not even enter if its flat side were presented to the opening. Hence, by adjusting the width of a discharge opening to' permit the passage of an uncracked nut but not of the cracked hull, the initial separation of hull and nut may be made. Then, after the shells have been cracked, the width of the opening is reduced to dimensions to pass the meats, if properly presented, while retainingthe shell portions, thus enabling separation of meatfrom the shell. Grading of meats may also be provided by first setting the opening width for the smaller'meats, then increasing the width of the opening to pass the next desired d'mension group, then increasing the opening 6 cension, etc.,thus gradually grading the meats into their groups.

By thus varying the dimensions of the discharge openings as to width, it is possible to provide the various separations and even meat gradings, without likelihood of bunching or of damaging the meats, since the discharge openings are so formed that entrance is edgewise and the shape of the shell or meat is such that it will accommodate itself to continue the movement in such direction until it passes through or is stopped by reason of the dimension conditions.

To permit of ready adjustments, the structure is formed in two sections, each of which is formed with end rings connected by rods of uniform cross section and extending in spaced relation and parallel with each other. The rods are uniformly spaced from the axis of the drum, and the rods of a section are uniformly spaced relative to each other. The sections are assembled with the rods of one section alternating with those of the other section, so that the distance between adjacent rods of one section is sufficient to not only include the intermediate rod, but if the latter be positioned midway between neighbor rods of the adjacent section, a discharge opening will be provided on opposite sides of the interposed rod, this presenting the minimum width dimension of the active discharge opening of the structure. By adjusting the position of the interposed rod toward either adjacent rod, one of such openings is increased in width, the reduction in width of the other opening rendering it too small for passing the shell, for instance, thus reducing the number of active openings to half the number present at the midway position of the interposed rod. Such adjustment can reach the condition where the interposed rod actually contacts one of the adjacent rods, this presenting the maximum width of the opening.

The rods of a section are fixedly connected to its end rings, and the spacing distance of the rods of one section is similar to that of the other section. As a result, if one of the sections be unadjustable relative to the power drive of the assembly with the other section adjustable relative to the first section, adjustment of the adjustable section simultaneously and concurrently adjusts all the rods of that section relative to those of the other section, thus determining the width dimensions .of the active discharge openings quickly and by the single adjustment. In other words, the arrangement of the sections is such that by adjustment of one of the sections the active discharge opening width is simultaneously and concurrently determined for all of the active discharge openings, with the arrangement of each section such that the width of such active openings is uniform.

In addition, with the exception of an adjustment which brings the interposed rod into actual contact with either of its neighboring rods, the adjustments set up the condition of an opening on each side of the interposed rod, with one of the pair of openings inactive as an active discharge opening, due to width decrease, excepting where the adjustment places the interposed rod midway between its neighbors, a position which renders both of the pair of openings active as a discharge opening, the latter position determining the minimum width of an active discharge opening of the assembly, and forms the one position in which all of the openings become serviceable as active discharge openings. Adjustment of the interposed rod away from such position serves to render fifty percent. 01? the openings inactive as such discharge openings because of reduced width. The sections are so mounted and arranged relative to each other as to permit minute adjustments to be made, thereby enabling the assembly to be placed in the most efiicient relationship for separation activities, and even to permit grading activities relative to the meats if desired.

In the present disclosure several different forms are presented, each of which carries the above characteristics. These several forms will now be described in detail:

Referring first to the form disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, I employ a relatively stationary section and a section 3| adjustably movable relatively thereto to constitute the riddle. Section 30 has end rings 32 fixed to a shaft 33 which is rotatable or in any suitable manner operable to completely rotate, oscillate and/or vibrate the riddle. To the periphery of the rings 32, screening or sifting bars 34 are welded or otherwise secured at their ends, in equidistantly spaced relation. Concentric with and surrounding the rings 32 are rings 35 of the movable section 3| having welded or otherwise fastened to the inner annular edge thereof, the terminals of sifter or screening bars 36, alternately arranged with respect to the bars 34, in parallelism therewith, and equidistantly. It will be noted that the bars 34 and 36 all have their longitudinal axes in a path or circle concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft 33. The sifting, screening or discharge openings 3'5, provided between each bar 33 and the coacting bar 36 are adjustable or variable as to size and area through relative rotation of the rings 32 and 35. This relative adjustment of the frames may be attained in various ways, and for instance through the manipulation of a screw rod 38, having a screw-threaded portion 38 engaging interior threads .of a nut 39. This rod is journaled in a ring 45 and held against longitudinal movement with respect thereto by abutments 40 on the rod. Nut 38 and ring or bearing ii] are respectively swiveled or pivoted on the rings 32 and 35 at i! and 42. The screw rod 38 is preferably provided with a knurled head 43 to facilitate manipulation.

Instead of actuating the cylindrical form of riddle of Figs. 1 to 3 by a center shaft, such as 30, I may support the same on a series of rolls 4d and 45 as shown in Fig. 5. One or both of such rolls may be rotated, oscillated, and/ or vibrated or actuated in any other suitable manner. Otherwise the same reference characters as used in Figs. 1 to 3 apply, with the exception that the spokes and hub of the ring 30 can advantageously be omitted.

In Figs. 6 and 7' I disclose a final form of the invention. It difiers from the forms of Figs. 1 to 5 only in arranging the rings of the frames, such as 30 and 3| side by side rather than one within the other. In this form, the rings of one section are designated 41, and the rings of the other section which is adjustable relatively thereto in the same manner that the rings 32 and 35 are adjustable, are designated 46. These rings may be completely rotated, oscillated and/or vibrated or otherwise operated asin Figs. 1 to 5. Respectively attached to the rings 46 and 4'! are sifting or screening bars 48 and 49, bearing the same arrangement, relation and operation, and attaining the same results as the bars 34 and 36 of the other forms.

Due to the accurate, minute and rapid adjustment of the bars in the different forms of the invention, the improved construction well adapts itself to the separation of almonds in the shells from the hulls after the hulls have been removed, and also for separating shells and hulls from the almond kernels or meats when the same have been cracked.

The construction may also be used as an independent unit or incorporated in almond hullers, crackers or other machinery. At the same time no limitation as to use is to be implied since the improved forms of riddle are clearly well capable of use as riddles in various other relations. Particular attention is directed to the fact that since the sifting or screening bars are disposed in the same plane, or have their axes in the same circular path, that an approximately level surface for the almonds or material to pass over is maintained, eliminating usual tendencies to bunch, fill up, or clog the screening or sifting openings.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In riddle assemblages, wherein the assemblage is designed for service in the separation of almond hulls and nuts or in the separation of almond meats and their shells, and/or dimensional separation of meats, at will, a riddle assemblage of drum-like formation mounted for rotational, oscillatory or vibratory movement relative to the drum axis, said drum formation comprising a pair of sections each formed of end rings connected by a plurality of parallel rods of substantially uniform cross section, and fixedly secured in permanent fixed position to the end rings and spaced apart equidistantly with the rods extending parallel to the drum axis, the rods of a section being spaced similar distances from the drum axis with such radial distance spacing of similar value in both sections to thereby position the rods of both sections on a circle concentric to the drum axis, said sections being mounted in coaxial relation with the rods of one section individually interposed between rods of the other section, one of said sections being fixedly related to the drum formation with the other section mounted within the formation for adjustment relatively at will relative to the first section, the spacing of adjacent rods of a section being sufficiently greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of a rod as to permit the presence of a rod of the other section midway between the pair of adjacent rods and provide an individual space of material dimensions on opposite sides of the interposed rod with each space active as a discharge outlet of content from the drum, adjustment of the movable section to move the interposed rod in the direction of either neighbor from such mid position serving to increase the width dimension of one of the pair of spaces and reduce the width of the other space of the pair of spaces to thereby render the reduced space inactive as charge outlet and provide a reduced number of discharge outlets of increased dimensions, said assemblage being further characterized in that the range of adjustment of the movable section is equal to the distance of travel of the interposed rod from a condition of contact with one of its neighbors to a similar contact with its other neighbor, the minimum width dimension of an active discharge outlet being provided when the interposed rod is positioned midway between its neighbors with the maximum width of discharge outlets provided when the interposed rod is in contact with one of its neighbors, the number of active discharge outlets being limited to the number of spaces between the rods of a section for all adjustments away from the midway position of the interposed rod, such rod when in the midway position increasing the number of active outlets of minimum dimensions to double such limited number, means being provided for adjusting the position of the movable member at will and for maintaining the member in its adjusted position.

WILLARD F. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 219,863 Howard Sept. 23, 1879 564,179 Areli July 21, 1896 784,134 Block Mar. 7, 1905 935,516 Jewett Sept. 28, 1909 1,409,353 Adamson Mar. 14, 1922 1,418,284 Carretto June 6, 1922 1,610,350 Anderson et a1 Dec. 14, 1926 

